Gray seeks to undo Leavitt’s actions if elected as Utah County Attorney – Daily Herald

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

Utah County Attorney candidate Jeff Gray has a long list of changes he plans on making if hes elected over incumbent David Leavitt.

Gray has been a prosecutor for 31 years, and running for county attorney was never in his plans until now.

Certainly, what I saw in Leavitts policies prompted me to run, Gray said.

Grays first act would be to reinstate the special victims unit that Leavitt disbanded.

That is a team of prosecutors who are specially trained to prosecute against crimes against women and children, and his approach to it is a disaster, said Gray. Leavitt will say he split up the unit and they trained everyone else, so now everyone is adept in prosecuting these kinds of crimes, but it isnt true. Ive spoken to several prosecutor and they arent getting that training.

Gray also told the Daily Herald he chose to run because he believes the county attorneys office needs to have a better working relationship with law enforcement.

All Ive heard from the county attorney is criticisms for police, but he hasnt done anything to help train police so they know what they can and cant do, Gray claimed.

Gray has been the Search and Seizure Director for the Utah Attorney Generals office for almost ten years. He said he would bring the necessary training to law enforcement officers within the county, if elected.

I regularly train law enforcement officers on the Constitution, specifically on the fourth amendment, on what they can and cant do, he said. I will bring that to this office and provide that training. We are on the same team, so we better be on the same page, and currently we arent on the same page.

Along with law enforcement, Gray sees a need for more training for prosecutors as well.

If I have to shift resources so that we have both victim advocates and training, I will do that, he said. I want this office to be the best prosecutors office in the state. We need attorneys that are well-trained and abreast with the law.

While commending what he called fine prosecutors in the office, he remarked the team is youthful.

I believe they are hardworking, but they are very young, and I think thats going to be a challenge when I take office, Gray said.

He is also in favor of pursuing the death penalty, and said it is the county attorneys duty to pursue it when appropriate to do so. Leavitt announced in September 2021 that he would no longer pursue the death penalty in capital cases.

As the chief prosecutor of the county, when the people of the state see fit to have the death penalty, its his obligation as the attorney who took an oath to pursue the law to pursue it, he said. When he says he will never pursue the death penalty, he is in violation of that oath. I will pursue the death penalty in appropriate cases.

According to Gray, the county currently has three crime victim advocates. He believes more are needed and would like to double that number, at least.

Gray also wants to incorporate an idea from his new ally, Adam Pomeroy, who wanted to ensure there are more fluent Spanish-speaking advocates.

We have a large percentage of our community that is Spanish speaking, so we need to be able to be attendant to their needs as well, he said.

After talking to thousands of people during this campaign, Gray believes his goals align with what the public wants.

Our experience is that they have overwhelmingly agreed with these things, he said. The residents support police. They realize the difficult jobs they have. Sheriff Smith, I think is very well liked. They universally believe we need a special victims unit. The death penalty is little bit more of a controversial issue, but by and large folks we have talked to support it.

Ballots have been mailed for the Republican primary. The election will culminate on June 28 between Gray and Leavitt.

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Gray seeks to undo Leavitt's actions if elected as Utah County Attorney - Daily Herald